Finlandia

Finlandia is a symphonic poem by Jean Sibelius. The first version was written in 1899, and it was revised in 1900. The piece was composed for patriotic pageant performed to mobilise popular opposition to the revocation of Finnish autonomy by the government of the Russian Empire.

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The last hymn-like part of Finlandia was later extracted by Sibelius and used in the Finlandia Hymn.

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The tune of Finlandia was also used for the national anthem of Biafra Land of the Rising Sun.

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It is also the source for the music for the hymn Be Still My Soul, with words written by Kathatina von Schlegel, translated into English by Jane Borthwick.

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There is also a story by William Saroyan called Finlandia, in which Saroyan writes about his love for Finlandia and a meeting with Sibelius. Finlandia is also named in his most famous short story, The Daring Young Man On The Flying Trapeze.

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Symphonic poem: A symphonic poem or tone poem is a piece of orchestral music, in one movement in which some extra-musical programme provides a narrative or illustrative element. This programme could come from a poem, a novel, a painting or some other source. Music based on extra-musical sources is often known as pr...

Jean Sibelius: Johan Julius Christian Sibelius (December 8, 1865 – September 20, 1957) was a Finnish composer of classical music and violinist. Together with the work of Johan Ludvig Runeberg, Sibelius' music is synonymous with Finnish national identity....

1899: 1899 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar)....